Dear Editor:
Ever year the Hoboken Board of Education holds an election for three of the nine seats. I have had the great opportunity to be elected four times to the Board in the past.
One of the candidates in this year’s election is Frank Raia. He is endearingly known as “Pupie”, a nickname his mother gave him as a young boy. I have served with over 30 different board members, none match the level of enthusiasm, generosity and sincerity of Frank Raia. He is certainly financially secure, however has made it one of his personal missions to ensure that every child receive the same opportunities to succeed that he received.
Anyone who has spent time with Pupie and me would know that we devote many nights to healthy debates over educational issues. Evidently there is no right answer or easy solution as to how the District would best benefit by one program or another. Educating children is not an easy task; there are many new difficulties facing the District from year to year.
As a result, it is the job of the board members to continually listen to parents, the administration, the community, as well as the children and then decide what opportunities will provide the greatest improvement and change.
Frank Raia is a listener. If someone wants to talk about education, he will listen. Frank Raia is also a doer. After listening and developing solutions, Frank will stand up for what is right. He has delivered year after year. Frank Raia is a proven civic leader. His record in Hoboken spans over 30 years from a coach, to Board President, to Chairman of HOPES and many community leadership positions in between.
Frank has always wanted to become the mayor of Hoboken; this year provided him a fine opportunity to run. It is also the same year that his Board of Education seat was up. Which one should be run for? In the end, although his chances were decent for the mayor’s election, he decided to run for the Board of Education and finish the work he started six years ago on the Board. I believe he made the right choice.
I have made many good friends since moving to Hoboken 20 years ago. Frank “Pupie” Raia is one of them. He deserves your support on April 21. He will help lead Hoboken’s public school children to a future that we can all be proud of.
Sincerely,
David Anthony